Project FAQs
Where will the project be located?
SouthCoast Wind’s wind turbines, inter-array cables, and offshore electric substation/s will be located in the Atlantic Coast Outer Continental Shelf lease area OCS-A 0521, which is over 30 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and 20 miles south of Nantucket.
To get energy from the lease area into the regional transmission grid, the SouthCoast Wind project will require two sets of transmission interconnection circuits, developed in two separate phases.
- In the first phase, SouthCoast Wind intends to interconnect 1,200 MW of electricity to the regional grid system at Brayton Point in Somerset, Massachusetts.
- In the second phase, Brayton Point, and Falmouth, Massachusetts, are being considered as potential points of interconnection for the project’s remaining 1,200 MW of electricity capacity.
No final decisions on site locations for project facilities will be made until a full routing analysis has been completed.
How many acres are in the federal offshore lease area?
127,388 acres.
How many turbines are you planning to install?
The lease area has 149 positions to install wind turbines and offshore substation platforms.
How much power will SouthCoast Wind generate?
Our federal offshore lease area has the potential to generate up to 2,400 MW of electricity, depending on the selected turbine technology. That is enough clean energy to power more than one million homes in the region.
What is the overall project timeline?
We expect to deliver clean energy to New England by the end of the decade.
Do you plan on leasing or purchasing the property at Brayton Point?
SouthCoast Wind would lease property at Brayton Point for onshore transmission and grid connection.
How can the public be involved in reviewing the project?
Public participation in the offshore wind development process is critical. Early input from stakeholders helps inform project design and planning. SouthCoast Wind is committed to developing the project through an open, transparent, and collaborative process.
The permitting and regulatory review process includes formal public meetings and public comment periods to allow all interested parties to share information and submit feedback. We encourage people to contact us if they have questions or would like to learn more about the project.
Who is responsible for removing the project facilities if it is no longer operational?
SouthCoast Wind will comply with all federal US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) requirements for decommissioning. This process requires SouthCoast Wind to achieve complete decommissioning (removal of facilities, projects, cables, and obstructions and clear the seabed of all obstructions) within two years of termination of the lease and either reuse, recycle, or responsibly dispose of all materials removed.
SouthCoast Wind submitted a conceptual decommissioning plan as part of its Construction and Operations Plan. The decommissioning plan will continue to be reviewed and improved upon over the operating life of the project to incorporate new discoveries and advancements in the fields of marine science and engineering, as well as lessons learned from the offshore wind industry and other offshore operations. BOEM will review and may approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the final decommissioning plan. The process includes opportunities for public comment as well as consultation with municipal, state, and federal management agencies.
Prior to construction, SouthCoast Wind must submit a bond (or another form of financial assurance) that would be held by the U.S. government to cover the cost of decommissioning the entire facility.
Are there any land purchases or eminent domain takings?
There are no takings. The project will primarily be installed underneath public property (existing paved roadways or roadside shoulders) and above-ground at a substation, which will be located on private property. Negotiations with private property owners are conducted in a manner that is respectful of their property rights.
What permits and licenses does SouthCoast Wind need before it can start construction?
The SouthCoast Wind project will require approximately 60 local, state, regional, and federal permits and approvals for relevant onshore, nearshore, and offshore work. SouthCoast Wind has the experience, knowledge, and capacity to obtain these permits and approvals necessary to develop and operate offshore energy projects.
If you are interested in learning more about SouthCoast Wind’s permitting process, we invite you to visit the Documents section on our website.